UK firm sorry it made jobseekers dance at interview

LONDON - When Alan Bacon, a 21-year-old looking for a job in the UK, was called in for a job interview, he didn't expect the employer to ask him and other applicants to dance.

"I think everyone initially thought it was a joke. But they were serious," Alan Bacon, one of those at the selection day, told the BBC.

"I ended up dancing to 'Around the World' by (French electronic music act) Daft Punk, doing rubbish robotics in my suit in front of a group of strangers. ... Another middle aged guy looked really upset as he danced to a rap song."

The company, British electronics retailer Currys, issued an apology on Thursday after admitting that interviewees trying to earn a job as a sales assistant at one of its stores had been made to dance.

The jobseekers, who were attending a group interview at a Currys Megastore in Cardiff, had to perform dance routines during team building exercises which the firm said did not form part of its formal procedures.

Currys, which is part of Dixons Retail, said the incident should not have happened and it was carrying out an internal investigation.

"We are extremely disappointed that one of the management team at the store in question did not follow our official recruitment processes," Currys said in a statement.

"We are extremely sorry to those interviewees impacted; all are being asked to attend another interview where they will be given a proper opportunity to demonstrate how they can contribute to our business."

As for Bacon, he told the BBC he did not get the job. Not that he seemed particularly disappointed.

"I told my dad it was like a scene out of The Office," he said. "I would have walked out, but I need a job."